DTSC West Oakland 11-07-05 LAG Meeting Invitation

							                                   Department of Toxic Substances Control

Alan C. Lloyd, Ph.D.                                  8800 Cal Center Drive                                     Arnold Schwarzenegger
 Agency Secretary                                Sacramento, California 95826-3200                                     Governor
     Cal/EPA



             October 20, 2005


             Dear Community Member:

             You are invited to participate as we form this West Oakland Brownfields Working Group/Local Advisory
             Group. We are seeking community members, as well as interested or affected people and groups, to
             participate in this endeavor. This meeting will take place on November 7, 2005 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
             at the West Oakland Public Library, 1801 Adeline Street, Oakland, CA 94607.

             The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is honored to partner with the West Oakland
             Environmental Indicators Project’s West Oakland Toxics Reduction Collaborative to organize a West
             Oakland Brownfield Working Group/Local Advisory Group pilot project. Together, we are moving forward
             with this project, which will involve the general public and other stakeholders in developing a forum for
             open communication between the community, the Department, and other agencies working on
             environmental cleanup in West Oakland. Brownfields are defined as abandoned, idled or underutilized
             properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental
             contamination.

             The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), along with its Boards, Departments and
             Offices, is working on an interim Environmental Justice action plan to address complex Environmental
             Justice issues. Environmental Justice is defined in law (Government Code section 65040.12) as “the fair
             treatment of people of all races, cultures and incomes with respect to the development, adoption,
             implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and policies.” Each entity within the Cal/EPA is
             developing and implementing a community-driven pilot project to facilitate the integration of
             Environmental Justice into its programs.

             Future meeting dates, times, and formats will be determined by the West Oakland Brownfield Working
             Group/Local Advisory Group members. Meetings may be held monthly, bimonthly or quarterly over the
             next year and a half, as determined by the advisory group. If you are interested in participating please
             come to the meeting. For more information, contact DTSC Public Participation Specialist Kris Escarda at
             (916) 255-6684 or e-mail her at kescarda@dtsc.ca.gov. For Environmental Justice questions, please
             contact Vanessa Byrd, Environmental Justice Coordinator at (916) 322-6920 or vbyrd@dtsc.ca.gov.

             The pilot project summary is enclosed. Please feel free to call if you have additional questions, or would
             like to share your thoughts and ideas.

             Respectfully yours,



             Joyce Whiten,                                              Richard Grow,
             DTSC Public Participation Supervisor                       U. S. Environmental Protection Agency



             Brian Beveridge,
             West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project



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